PHOTOCATALYTIC DISCOLORATION OF REACTIVE BLUE 5G DYE IN THE PRESENCE OF MIXED OXIDES AND WITH THE ADDITION OF IRON AND SILVER

This work reports the use of cerium-titania-alumina-based systems modified with Ag and Fe by the wetness impregnation method for the discoloration of blue 5G dye. The techniques employed to characterize the photocatalysts were: temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), specific surface area, average pore volume, and average pore diameter. The characterization results indicated that the photocatalysts had different crystalline structures and textural properties. Discoloration with the mixed oxide photocatalyst CeO(2)-TiO(2)-Al(2)O(3) gave a result similar to that of TiO(2). On the other hand, the addition of Ag and Fe to the mixed oxide increased the discoloration and reaction rates of reactive blue 5G dyes.